New Generation of Test Benches for Ultrasonic Testing of Solid Axles

摘要

The wheelsets of the railway rolling stock are periodically inspected by non-destructive testing to ensure the safety in the passenger and freight transportation. A first generation of automatic test benches is applied since more than a decade for periodic in-service inspection of solid axles. These test benches using the ultrasonic phased array technique to detect transverse cracks at the surface of the axles of mounted wheelsets at an early stage. We present a new generation of these test benches using new phased array devices. The phased array devices are characterised by a large number of channels, a high signal-to-noise ratio and small dimensions. Hence multiple devices can be placed close to the ultrasonic probes, so that interferences, caused by long transducer cables, can be reduced. Furthermore the probes can operate in parallel and so the inspection time can be shortened. Adapted phased array probes allow the inspection of coated and thick coated axles with high sensitivity. Hence the preparation of the surface by sandblasting and the re-coating of the axles are not required. The new database-supported software controls the inspection process and allows a fast analysing and reporting of the inspection data by a clear and easy operable user interface. The costumers expect a long service life, low service costs and a high availability of the new test benches.